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Civilian Emergency Platform
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — You are in water and cannot keep your head above the surface — you are going under.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — NOT EXPERT REVIEWED — NOT FOR PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — You cannot get your mouth above water to breathe.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — You are swallowing or inhaling water.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Your arms and legs feel heavy and useless.
Scene hazards: Current pulling you away, Cold water, Exhaustion, Hidden underwater obstacles
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Stop fighting. Take a breath if you can, then try to roll onto your back.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Tilt your head back — let the water support your head.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Float on your back with arms and legs spread slightly — like a star shape.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Breathe slowly. Raise one arm and wave it side to side to signal help.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — If near shore, use a gentle scissor kick to move toward safety — do not sprint.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Shout "Help!" only when your mouth is above water — do not shout repeatedly and waste breath.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Wave one arm above your head. Shout when your face is out of water.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — If you have a phone in a waterproof case, call 112 and leave it on speaker.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — If you swallowed or inhaled water, you need medical care even after rescue — tell paramedics what happened.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT thrash or flail — this pushes you underwater.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT try to remove heavy clothing while sinking — float first.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT swim against a strong current — swim parallel to shore or float until help arrives.
MYTH: DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Strong swimmers cannot drown
REALITY: DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Anyone can drown — from cramp, cold, current, injury, or exhaustion.
DANGER: DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Overconfidence leads to swimming beyond safe limits.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Your body is running out of energy to stay above water. Panicking makes you sink faster because you burn oxygen and thrash downward.